can i use a 4 gb and a 2gb ram on a same ddr3 motherboard?

[Ananthu C Babu]

can i use a 4 gb and a 2gb ram on a same ddr3 motherboard?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

You can but you shouldn't if the motherboard supports dual memory architecture, as DCMA only works if the RAM capacities match (ideally they should be bought as a matched pair).

Nothing bad will happen if you use two different RAM capacities, but your losing out on what is a worthwhile performance-enhancing feature.

Buying matched pairs has another good point, there's far less chance of the modules not playing nice with each other.

 

[BFG-9000]

If it's an Intel chipset it will even run in Flex memory mode where the first 4GB runs in dual-channel and the last 2GB in single-channel. This has been possible since 2004 so it well predates even DDR3 itself.

 

[13thmonkey]

DMA is direct memory access - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_memory_access
Dual channel is what you are looking for. Completely different technologies.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

DMA is direct memory access - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_memory_access
Dual channel is what you are looking for. Completely different technologies.

Just a typo (now corrected) --- I know what Direct Memory Access is, also know it's not the same as DCMA.
I just used an acronym for Dual Channel Memory Architecture (DCMA) rather than having to type the entire term.

 

[MattBeastblood]

That's how my PC was made. It came with a 4 and a 2. I bought an extra 4 and 2 too though, they're exact matches too.

Are there any performance issues with having 4+4 and 2+2? Are you losing anything? I do have each pair on separate channels obviously.

 

[13thmonkey]

if it works, you'll be fine, but it's a big if, sets that are not matched are not guaranteed to work. And yes 4+4 on one channel and 2+2 on the other is best.